World Health Report 2005 Is "A Missed Opportunity," Says March of Dimes

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., APRIL 7, 2005 -- “The World Health Report 2005 overlooks birth defects as major global cause of infant death and disability,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “It's a missed opportunity to highlight care and prevention of birth defects, which should be an integral part of any country's maternal and child health programs.”

Dr. Howse says the March of Dimes will issue its own report later in the year to describe the global tolls of birth defects and the opportunities for care and prevention.  She says nearly eight million children throughout the world are born with serious genetic birth defects each year.  Hundreds of thousands more are born with serious birth defects due to teratogens (factors that cause birth defects), including fetal alcohol syndrome, maternal iodine deficiency, congenital syphilis and congenital rubella syndrome.

Half the children with serious birth defects born in poorer countries -- more than 3.2 million -- die each year, most with their birth defects undiagnosed, the March of Dimes report is expected to say.  Those who survive, risk being disabled for life.

The Millennium Development Goal 4 adopted by world leaders at a United Nations summit five years ago regarding child survival calls for a two-thirds reduction in child mortality by 2015 from the base year of 1990.  The March of Dimes says this goal cannot be met unless more is done to reduce deaths from serious birth defects in lower-resource nations.

“If the world makes birth defects in lower resource countries a priority, child survival will improve markedly and the risk of lifelong disabilities for those who survive will be greatly reduced,” says Dr. Howse.

The March of Dimes has contributed to a WGBH-TV broadcast and impact campaign, Rx for Survival – A Global Health Challenge, a six-part NOVA series that focuses on global health issues to raise awareness about the problems facing the poorest children in the world. The series is scheduled to air on PBS stations November 1, 2, and 3, 2005.
World Health Report 2005 -- Make Every Mother and Child Count, was issued today by the World Health Organization.